Machine for vending postage-stamps or the like.



A. PARKER.

. MACHINE FOR VENDING POSTAGE STAMPS on THE LIKE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 14, 1906. 913,843 Patented Mar. 2, 1909. 2 8HBETSSHEBT 1. m

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A. PARKER.

MACHINE FOR VENDING POSTAGE STAMPS OR THE LIKE. APPLICATION FILED NOV. 14, 1906.

91 3,843, Patented M21112, 1909.

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ALEXANDE PHRKER ALEXANDER PARK All.

DAh'NEVIRKE, NEW ZEALAND.

ISIAUHINE FOR VENEER? PCSlfiGE-STAMPfi? OR THE LIKE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented March 2,1909.

Application filed November 111, 1906. Serial No. 843,319.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, .i-iLnxaNoEn PARKER, subject of the King of Great Britain, residing at Dannevirke, in the Colony of New Zealand, have invented a new and useful Improved Machine for Vending Postage Stamps and the Like; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact .description of the same.

This invention relates to an improved machine for vending postage stamps, tickets for railway or tramway purposes, or other like articles that may be joined together in a con tinuous strip.

The invention has, however, been particularly'designed for vending postage stamps, and in describing it, it will be described as designed for such a purpose.

- The invention consists in means adapted to be placed in a position for operation by the insertion of a coin in a slot, whereby the end-of a continuous strip of stamps may be fed forward over an opening in a casing for a distance approximating to the length or .width of the stamp, a'ndwill then be severed by acutter so as to fall'through such openmg. Provision is made for any, but the proper coin for operating the mechanism being ejected from the machine, and other delI-EL'llS- for the satisfactory operation thereof, referred to hereafter.

In describing the invention, reference will be 1 made to the accompanying sheets of drawings, in which Figure 1 1s a iront elevation out the machine. I Fig. 2 is an elevation with the front cover --removed, and showing the race or chute for theoperating coin. Fi 3 is an end elevation, on an enlarged scale, of the is a plan I -I ig. 5 is ail-inside backview of the front of the casing, showing the rangement of the stainp carrying spool. F 6 is a detail view of the coin wheel (to be herein-after referredto) with its detaining pa'wl lever. Fig. 7 is a side elevation there of. Fig. 8 is a detail sectional elevation of;

the s'trip feeding mechanism.

The machine comprises a casing a ct suitable-des1gn, having a tray opening?) in its front, and a slot 0 for the insertion of the operating coin in its top.-

Mounted-in. bearings (Z extending verti I l l l cally from a cross piece or plate 0 supported horizontally within the casing a, is the operating spindle f, the front end of which extends outwards through the front of the easing, and has a handle 9 secured thereto. This spindle is provided with a ratchet wheel 1: secured upon itimmediately behind the front of the casing, and a pawl j pivoted to the bearing (Z, gears with the teeth of the ratchet, so as to allow of the spindle rotating only in the one direction. An arm In (Figs. 2 and 3) is secured to the spindle alongside of the ratchet wheel, and a spring 122 (Fig. 2) is secured upon the inside face of the front of the casing, and bears upon the end of such arm, so as to normally keep it and the spindle to which it is connected, in a certain position for a after mentioned. p

A coin wheel a is secured upon the spindle f, and this wheel is formed, as 'shown in the detail views Figs. 6 and 7, of two circular disk plates secured together with distance pieces 0 between them, so as to form a slot in which the operating coin will rest. These distance pieces are so arranged as to form rests for the coin withinthe slot, so disposed thatsuch coin will have its top edge uniform with the periphery of the wheel. The peripheral edge of the wheel is formed with a notch p therein,a'nd an arm rhas an inwardly turned end normally engaging with the periphery of theewhee'l, and kept in" engagement by me'ansof asuitabl'e spring 8.

The engagement of this arm with the wh eels periphery, will, when it is sought to turn the. spindle in the direction allowed by the pawl y, cause the arm to fall into the notch 7') and prevent any further movement there: to. When a coin is in the wheel, the arm "r will engage with its periphery, and as the spindle and wheel are turned, will be lifted up over the notch, thus allowing for ,a full revolution of the spindle. The wheel is only adapted to hold the coin that it is desired shall operate themachine, a coin'of asmaller size falling right through it, while ,it would be impossible for alarger one to be passed into the slot 0.

' The coin wheel is arranged beneath the bottom opening of a coin passage 25 that extends downwards from the coin slot, and'the construction of-which'is shown in Fig. 2.

This passage is arranged to automatically eject through the side of the casing, any coin that is not of the exact weight of the coin desired to operate the machine, which in con junction with the fact that the slot 0 will not allow of the insertion of a coin of larger diameter, will tend to prevent any illegitimate Working. To provide for the ejection of coins of different weights to the proper weight, the bottom of the passage 6 is formed with pivoted counterweighted levers u and w that are respectively counterweighted by theweighted arms a: and y, each carrying an adjustable weight. The first of these levers u is so adjusted as to remain stationary when the proper coin is sliding over it, but to tip down should a coin of greater weight pass on' to it, andthus cause such coin to fall from the passage and pass out through a slot .2 in the side of the casing a. The second lever 10, is adjusted to tip down when a coin of the right weight falls on to it, and provide an inclined plane down which the coin will slide into the slotted wheel 12. A coin of less weight will pass over both levers, being insuflici'ently heavy to tip either of them, and

will then also pass out through the slot 2.

Supported longitudinally above the plate 0, is the stamp strip feeding groove or table (2). This table extends cross wise along within the casing and terminates at one end above an opening (3) made in the plate 6 above a chute (4:) that leads outwards to the tray opening 6 in thefront of the casing. The strip of stamps (8) is wound upon aspool (5) (Fig. 5), and is fed into the opposite end of the groove (2) and along such groove, in a manner, and by means to be hereinafter described. Pivoted to the rear bearing (Z is a knife blade (6) that is normally kept in the raised position shown in Fig. 3 by means of the spring (7 connected to its back end. This blade is adapted to be pressed down so' as to pass closely against the end face of the stamp groove (2) so as to sever from the strip (8) any portion projecting over such end. The means provided for depressing the knife, consist of a plunger rod (9) that is mounted within a vertical guide (10) 'secured to the rear bearing d. This plunger is connected by means of a pin (29) to a connecting rod (11) articulated to a crank pin (12) secured upon the face of a disk (13) that is mounted upon the rear end of the spindle A revolution of such spindle will thus cause the plunger to be depressed and raised again. A. pin (1a) extends laterally from its bottom end, and overlies the knife blade so that on the depression of the plunger, it will engage with, and push the knife down against the action of its spring, such spring turning the knife up again when the pressure of the plunger upon it is withdrawn.

The means provided for feeding the stamp strip (8) along the groove (2) are arranged to feerlsuch strip a distance equal to the width or length of a stamp, (according to the manner in which the hips are printer upon the strip) with each revolution of the spindle These means consist of a sliding frame (15) that is secured to a bar (16) mounted in suitable bearings and extending parallel with the groove This frame comprises bearings (17) in which a roller (18) extending across above the groove (2), is mounted so as to be capable of rotating.

Secured to this roller, and extending along and overlying a plate forming portion of the sliding frame, is a plate (20), the free end of which rests upon the plate in the manner shown in the detail view, Fig. 8. Screwing through the plate (20), are a numher of small screws (21) (three being used for preference) the bottom ends of which are sharpened, and are so adjusted as to project into the groove (2) and to extend into shallow channels cut longitudinally in the surface of such groove in position corresponding to the position-s of the screw':-- (21). These screws are adapted to pierc the strip of stamps lying within the groom; so that when the sliding frame is CllflWI. towards the,knife end of the groove. (2), the strip will be drawn a corresponding distance along it. The bar (16) has its end turned upwards at right angles. as at at'a point beyond the spindle f, and upon the spindle mounted a send-circular cam plate (24) which is mounted eccentrically on the spindle. The flat portion of this cam engages normally with the member of the bar (16), which member kept in close contact therewith, by means of a spring (25) fastened to the bar, and to a suitable part 'of the casing a. When the spindle f is turned, the cam (2st) will push the bar (16) along, as shown by dotted lines in the sliding frame and stamp strip being drawn along the groove a corresponding distance. V

Projecting upwards from the roller (18), is a rigid rod (26) that curves over in the manner shown in the drawings, and which, when the sliding frame to which it is attached, is drawn along in the manner referred to, will pass beneath the pin connec' connecting rod (11). depressed, this pin will engage with the rod (26) causing it to tip, thus turningthe roller (18) in' its bearings and raising the free end of the plate (20) clear of the groove. A spring (27) is fastened at one end to the rod (26), and at the other end to a fixture (2S), and serves to return the rod and plate (20) to their normal positions when the rod is released from beneath the pin (29), and with. such a force as to cause the pointed ends of the screws (21) to pierce the stamp strip.

As such plunger is cry of suchwheel.

To provide for all coins being ejected in the lower portion of the casing.

. iThec-am (24) and theplunger operating disk are so disposed in relation to each other, that when the spindle f is turned 'through the first half of .a complete revo-- lution, the bar (16), with its sliding frame,

;will.first bedrawn along the necessary distance to cause a stamp upon'the strip to project over the end of the groove (2) and the plunger (9) will then be depressed to cause the knife to cut off-such stamp. At the same time, the strip gripping 111 ns will be tipped-to free the screws (21) f*om the strip. As the second half of the re olution continues, the bar (16) and sliding frame,

will be drawn back to their normal posi (20) down 1n the manner mentioned, to obtain a fresh gripon the strip for the next revolution of theoperating spindle.

Towill be seen that the operating spindlemay only be revolved when the necessary coin has. been placed within the slotted wheel a; This coin, as the revolution proceeds, will fall out of the wheel into a chute (30) (Figs. 2 and 5) and will fall down through itinto an openin through the plate e into a locked drawer (31) fitted To insure of the coin falling out of the wheel .when' the wheel is turned, a weighted arm (32) (Figs. 6 and 7)v is pivoted between the plates of which it is composed, which arm, as the wheel revolves. turns into the space be tween the plates .-and engages with the edge of the coin, so as to push it out of the mouth of the slot.

The arm is and spring mare provided for the purpose of keeping the coin wheel normally in a position such as to receive the coininserted in the slot, and in a position such that the detaining lever arm 1 will be able to ride over the notch 72 in the periphfrom the machine. when the supply of stamps is exhausted, the stamp spool (5) is mounted on one end of a tipping frame (33) (Fig. 5) the other end of which is weighted to balance the weight of the spool.

H Tl1 is end is disposed beneath the end of the oouiitemeighted arm 00 of the coin passage lever 24 and the end of the strip is securely fastened upon the spool. When all of the the drag on such strip will cause the frame t (33) to tip, and its other end to engage with and raise the arm 1 thus depressing the the slot 2 in the casings side in the manner before described. The stamps severed from the strip, will fall through the opening (3) into the tray opening 71 in the front of the machine.

An'operator using the machine, will first drop the coin into the slot 0, and will then turn the handle 9 through a complete revolution, when the stamp will be delivered. To prevent any liability of back movement in the strip of stamps (8), the arm (34) (Fig. 8) is employed. This arm is pivotally hung upon a cross bar at the end of the strip groove (2), and its bottom end inclines downwards and inwards, so as to rest upon the bottom of such groove. The top'end is weighted as at (36), so as to provide for a certain amount of downward pressure being exerted upon the arm. The inclination of this arm will allow of the strip being fed through the roove in the direction of such inclination, but it will serve to prevent any contrary movement of such strip. Thus, the

strip will always be kept taut along its bed in the groove (2).

What I do claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a vending machine, an operating spindle, an operating handle connected therewith, means for intermittently feeding a continuous strip of stamps or tickets, and comprising a sliding frame provided with means for gripping the strip, connections, controlled by the aforesaid operating spindle, for imparting a slidipg movement to the frame referred to, apivotecl cutting device for cutting stamps or tickets as fed by the aforesaid mechanism and normally held in a raised position, and a plunger rod for operating sa-id cutting device, and connccted with the aforesaid spindle.

2. In a vending machine, an operating spindle, an operating" handle connected therewith, a grooved table along which a continuous strip of stamps or the like is adapted to be fed, and a sliding frame fittingon said table and carrying a plate overlying the latter, a second plate secured to a roller pivoted on said frame and provided with adjustable spikes projecting into the groove aforesaid, a rigid arm extending upwardly from said rollrngadaptcd tobe depressed so as to raise the plate carrying the spikes, anda spring for keepii'ig said arm normally in a raised position, and connections, controlled by the operating spindle, for depressing said arm.

3. in a vending machine, an operating spindle, an operating handle connected stamp strip has been unwound therefrom,

therewith, a groove along which a continuous strip of stamps or the like is. adapted to be'fed, and a sliding frame fitting on such table and comprising a plate overlying the latter, a second plate secur d to a roller piv- .ol'e-zl on the frame and provided with adjnstaole spikes projecting into the groove aforesaid, a rigid arm extending upwardly from said roller adapted to be depressed so as to raise the'piate carrying the spikes, and a spring for keeping said arm normally in a raised position, in combination with connections, controlled by the operating spindle, for depressingsaid arm, said sliding frame having an upwardly-turned end and said 10 spindle provided with scam adapted to engage with said upwardly-turned end of the sliding frame.

In testimony whereof, I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

ALEXANDER. metres.

Witnesses W. ALEXANDER, W. BORLASE. 

